Cleveland’s PolyOne Corporation announced its expanded Asian reach with the formation of PolyOne Japan Kabushiki Kaisha (PolyOne Japan Ltd.). With new business headquarters in Tokyo, Masato Sakum will oversee the Asian arm of the polymer supply company as the business development manager, first focusing on specification with original Japanese manufacturing equipment and polymer processors.

“Our expanded presence in Japan represents another milestone in building our capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region,” says Willie Chien, vice president and general manager, PolyOne Asia. “We see significant opportunities to leverage our diversified portfolio of products, services and solutions to deliver differentiated value to our customers in Japan. We are well-positioned to serve the needs of the key industries in the country, including electronics, automotive, packaging and bio-related materials.”

Kurt Schuering, PolyOne’s vice president of corporate accounts, will oversee the business development operations of PolyOne Japan Ltd. “Our technical expertise, problem-solving skills and global reach will enable us to drive market penetration,” Schuering says. “By acting as a global consultant to customers, we are able to understand and respond to a wide variety of their needs, initiatives and operational issues.”